JenaValve said today that it named David Drachman, the former chief executive at AtriCure (NSDQ:ATRC), to be its new CEO.

JenaValve makes a transcatheter aortic valve implant that’s on the market in Europe. Drachman, whose résumé includes stints at Biosense Webster, Impulse Dynamics, Ventritex and Boston Scientific (NYSE:BSX), spent 10 years in the corner office at AtriCure from 2002 to 2012, according to a press release.

"During his tenure, AtriCure became the 1st and remains the only company to receive U.S. Food & Drug Administration approval for the surgical treatment of [atrial fibrillation], expanded its product portfolio from 1 to 6 unique platforms and grew from a startup company to the market leader with sales in more than 30 countries," JenaValve said.

"Mr. Drachman is joining JenaValve at a key point in the Company’s evolution," chairman Raymond Cohen said in prepared remarks. "David is a recognized leader who is highly competitive and up to the challenge of positioning JenaValve as a significant player in the TAVI space. The board and I look forward to working closely with David to achieve those goals."

"The last 8 years have been the most exciting period in my professional life. After having built JenaValve from scratch to a solid, well respected company with excellent products, it is time now for the next big step for the company. I have no doubt that David has the expertise to enlarge JenaValve’s international presence and lead the company going forward," former CEO Helmut Straubinger added.

"JenaValve has developed and commercialized a truly unique TAVI system that has proven advantages for both physicians and patients. The company now seeks to translate its innovation into a broader product platform, complete clinical study work and gain the CE Mark for our transfemoral pericardial tissue TAVI product, accelerate commercial growth in Europe and aggressively pursue serving new and larger geographies, including the United States and China," Drachman said.

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